Fuel economizer and decarbonizer for internal-combustion engines



Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN E. HITCH, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FUEL ECONOMIZEB AND DECARBONIZER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed November 3, 1921. Serial No. 512,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. Hrrcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel Economizers and Decarbonizers for Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to means for conserving fuel and preventing the fouling of internal combustion engines and enables air and vapor to be combined with the mixture after leaving the carburetor and prior to its entrance into the engine, whereby to insure a homogeneous mixture and prevent particles of fuel passing into the engine.

The invention furthermore enables the application of a decarbonizer for cleaning the engine and the supplying of a lubricant, such as pulverized graphite, to prevent the sticking of the pistons and valves and insure their smooth operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood. a

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the invention applied,

Figure 2 is a detail view of the appliance partly in section,

Figure 3 is a detail view of the device ap-.

plied to the upper'end of the radiator overflow. pipe,

Fi re 4 is a detail view of the check applied to the lower or discharge end of the radiator overflow pipe,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of the invention for supplying a lubricant to the engine,

igure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of the invention for applying a decarbonizer,

Figure 7 is a sectional detail of the plate and contiguous portions of the carburetor and manifold between which said plate is clamped, and

Figure 8 is a detail view of the hot air chamber which is clamped about the exhaust manifold.

Corresponding and lik parts are referred to in the following description and designated in-the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The engine 1, intake and exhaust manifolds 2 and 3, respectively, radiator 4 and overflow pipe 5 are well known partsof an engine of the Ford type and are illustrated to demonstrate the application of the invention.

The appliance comprises a plate 6 of oblong form and provided at one side with an enlargement 7 in which are formed independent passages which are in communication at their inner ends with hot air and vapor tubes 8 and 9, respectively. Flexible hot air and vapor tubes 10 and 11, respectively, are in communication with the outer ends of said passages. The plate 6 is formed with a central opening 12 in which is fitted a screen 13 disposed at one side of the tubes 8 and 9. The plate 6 is clamped between the flanged coupling ends of the carburetor 14 and intake manifold 2, gaskets 15 being disposed at opposite sides of the plate to insure tight joints. The flexible tube 10 connects with a hot air chamber 16 clamped about the exhaust manifold 3, and the flexible tube 11 connects with the lower end of the radiator overflow pipe 5. The hot air tube 8 is 'provided upon its inner side with a plurality of minute openin s 17 and the vapor tube 9 is likewise provided upon its inner side with a number of'minute openings 18. These outlet openings 17 and 18 are centrally disposerl with reference to the opening 12 in the plate 6, so as to supply jets of hot air and vapor into the center of the column of gaseous mixture passing through the opening 12 from the carburetor 14 to the intake manifold 2, whereby any particles of fuel contained in the mixture are broken up and vaporize-d, thereby insuring a homogeneous mixture being supplied to the engine and preventing waste of fuel and the fouling of the engine and adjunctive parts. The screen 13 assists materially in combining the hot air and vapor with the gaseous mixture and the breaking up of particles of fuel that may not be atomized by the carburetor.

A cap 19 is fitted to the upper end of the overflow pipe 5 and is provided in its sides with screened openings 20 to prevent particles passing from the radiator into the overflow pipe and choking the minute outlets 18 of the vapor tube 9. i

A check is applied to the lower end of the overflow pipe 5 and comprises a cap 21 screened at its lower end. and provided near itsu per end with a lateral coupling nipple 22 w iich receives the vapor tube 11. A valve seat 23 is disposed within the lower portion of the cap 21 and a valve 24 cooperates therewith and is adapted to open downward ly and close upwardly. On the suction stroke of the engine, the valve 24 closes and prevents air entering the lower end of the check and any water tending to accumulate will find its way into the check, unseat the valve 24 and finds a ready escape and is prevented from being drawn into the engine.

l/Vhen it is desired to lubricate the engine by applying pulverized graphitethereto, the tube 10 is disconnected from the plate 6 and is replaced by a flexible tube 25 of smaller diameter and the outer or receiving end of the tube 25 is dipped into a bottle 26, or other container, holding a small amount of graphite which is sucked through the tube :25 into the engine when the latter is running thereby lubricating the walls of the cylinders and the pistons and valves. A small amount of graphite thus applied is ett'ective in preventing the sticking of Valves and in suring the free movement of the piston without passing into the crank case and shortcircuiting the magneto of the engine of the Ford type.

To loosen and remove carbon from the engine, a liquid decarbonizer is supplied to a receptacle 27 and the receivin end of the flexible tube 25 is dipped therein. The best results are obtained by having the decarbonizer heated and applied while the engine is hot. One form of decarbonizer is prepared by taking half a gallon of hot water and adding about four tablespoonfuls of common baking soda thereto, the same being applied after the soda has become dissolved. It is observed that the engine. should be run fast to prevent any of the decarbonizer getting by the piston and entering the crank case. This application of the invent on is illustrated in Figure 6.

It is also observed that the construction is such as to admit of a decarbonizer being gradually applied to the engine, while running, by arranging the parts so that a small amount of decarbonizer may be drawn into the tube 10 or 25 while the engine is performing service.

The hot air chamber 16 consists preferably of a metal strap having opposite edges of a portion flanged to engage the exhaust mufiier 3 and thereby enclose a space for receiving and confining air to insure the heating thereof prior to passing into the tube 10. One end of this strap is slotted and the opposite end is reduced in width and extends through the slot and is bent to retain the chamber upon the exhaust manifold.

A nipple 29 connects each of the tubes 10 and 11 with a passage 30 of the extension 7 and its inner end is shaped to provide a seat for a valve 31 whereby the supply of air, fluid or the like is controlled. The device is so positioned that; the part 7 is pendent to insure seating the valves 31.

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel economizer of the character specified comprising a plate having an opening for the passage of fuel, a pair of tubes extending across the fuel opening and having inwardly facing outlets for the discharge of substances to be added to the fuel, and means supplying said substances to said tubes, said substances comprising hot air to be supplied to one of said tubes and water vapor to be supplied to the other of said tubes. 1

2. A fuel economizer comprising a plate. having a fuel opening and provided at one side with an enlargement in which are formed passages leading into the fuel opening of the plate, tubes in communication with said passages and extending across the fuel opening and having minute outlets in their opposing sides, and supply tubes in communication with onterends of said passages, one of said supply tubes having connection with the source of supply of water vapor and the other of said tubes having connection with a hot air drum on the exhaust pipe of an engine.

3. 91 fuel economize! of the character specified comprising an elongated plate having a centrally disposed fuel opening and centrally disposed enlargement at one side in which are formed passages leading the fuel opening, a screen extending across the fuel opening. parallel tubes in the fuel opening and in communication with the inner end of said pamages and having centrally disposed outlets in their opposing sides, and supply tubes in communication with the outer ends of said passages, one of said supply tubes having connection with a source of supply of water vapor and the other of said tubes having connection with a hot air drum on the exhaust pipe of an englue.

in testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Jill-TN E. HITCH. Witnesses JOHN G. Henson, l vlxa'rna FrNsrnns'UsH.

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